Monte-Carlo Cigar Club: a new private club at the casino

A historic setting inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has unveiled the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club, a private room set aside for cigar smokers. Housed in the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the club occupies the former office of François Blanc, who founded the SBM in 1863. Covering close to 200 m², it comprises a smoking lounge, an onyx bar, a made-to-measure air-conditioned humidor and a panoramic terrace with one of the finest views over the Mediterranean. The opening is part of the SBM group’s strategy of adding high-end venues to the ones it already runs.

Heritage and location

Placing the club inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo gives it a particular character. It occupies the former office of François Blanc, the man behind the Société des Bains de Mer, which gives it a direct link with local heritage. The club’s private terrace looks out over the roofs of the Casino and takes in the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Mediterranean, a reminder of the principality’s history. The setting reinforces the link with the Riviera: Monaco remains a destination for an international clientele, and the club presents itself as a further addition to that tradition.

Interior decoration and design

The lounge of the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club was designed by the architects Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille. Fine materials — precious woods, worn leather, subtle marquetry — and deep colours (tobacco-coloured walls that recall Havana) create a warm atmosphere. The furniture has been arranged to encourage conversation: comfortable leather armchairs are placed around a concealed bookcase built into the partitions, in a hushed setting. In the centre of the room, a backlit onyx bar and a large glazed humidor by DeArt, a leading maker of cigar cabinets, complete the decor. Every detail, from the chased metal to the dimmed lighting, has been designed with the same care.

Cigars and tailored services

The club’s humidor is another significant feature. It holds some 35,000 long-filler cigars, selected from the main growing regions. The best-known brands are there (Cohiba, Montecristo, Davidoff, Partagás, Arturo Fuente, Trinidad) alongside smaller producers (Plasencia, Rocky Patel, Bolivar, Ramon Allones). Each humidor and each hardwood locker keeps these cigars in the right conditions for ageing. These references are reserved for sponsored members, with priority access for guests staying in the Diamond suites. The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club therefore offers an international selection in line with the reputation of the venues around it.

A large humidor

The club’s cigar list reflects the work of established makers. Each box or vitola stands for a craft handed down over a century: Cuba and the Dominican Republic sit alongside Costa Rica and Peru in a varied assortment. Beyond their origin, these are cigars selected from well-known houses. This wide choice, presented in an air-conditioned humidor, makes the club a reference point for aficionados wanting to look through the main names on the market.

Pairing service

The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club does not stop at offering rare cigars: it also provides a dedicated pairing service. In-house specialists help members to match a cigar with a drink. Champagnes from well-known houses and fine teas sit beside a selection of vintage whiskies and cognacs, while a range of Cuban rums (in particular the Iconica collection from Havana Club) completes the list. Vintages from the cellars of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo round out the range. The service comes with a menu of club sandwiches and savoury dishes.

Members and club life

A closed membership

The club’s access policy underlines how restricted it is. Membership is granted only through an internal sponsorship system, which keeps the circle small. Only approved members and guests of the Diamond Suites can cross the threshold. The house rules match the standing of the venue: the minimum age is 18 and a strict dress code applies. The club also intends to maintain a high level of privacy, with a formal ban on taking photographs or filming inside. Everything is designed to preserve the quiet, private atmosphere found in comparable establishments.

Private events to come

Beyond the opening itself, the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club will run a programme of private events. It began with a VIP inauguration on 19 May 2025, ahead of the official opening to members on 28 May. Themed gatherings and launch evenings for limited series can be expected, along with masterclasses led by experienced smokers or by well-known sommeliers. Each of these events will extend the life of the club by bringing enthusiasts together. The club intends to become a meeting point for connoisseurs, where members can talk and compare notes.

Monte-Carlo and its high-end venues

The Principality of Monaco, already known for its prestige establishments, is taking in this new club as an extension of what it already offers. The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club fits into the world of the principality’s casinos, palace hotels and lounges. As Albert Manzone, vice-president of SBM, puts it, the new venue is not “only a place, it is an experience, a statement”. The project is presented as being anchored in Monegasque tradition: according to François Blanc’s motto, it helps to “give dreams, pleasures and beauty” to visitors.

The Monegasque way of doing things

The club confirms Monte-Carlo’s vocation as a centre of exclusivity. It restates SBM’s long experience in running landmark venues, from casinos to five-star hotels and cultural events. Adding a space for cigar enthusiasts inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo brings another facet to the Monegasque way of doing things, based on finish and on company. The space is intended as a setting that meets the expectations of its members, in line with the reputation of the Côte d’Azur.

Cultural and economic impact

Beyond what it represents, the Monte-Carlo Cigar Club may stimulate local activity in the niches of high-end tourism. By attracting an international clientele of connoisseurs, it supports prestige hotels and Monegasque restaurants. The club also strengthens Monaco’s position in the market for experience-based travel. By drawing on the history of the site and on craftsmanship (furniture making, heritage restoration), it adds to the local cultural scene. The initiative consolidates the international profile of the Principality and creates a new point of interest around cigar craft in the region.